We’re sad that a lawsuit against a discredited and credibly-accused corrupt Catholic group has settled out of court, especially because once again these selfish and manipulative church officials have been able to pay off accusers and hide their wrongdoing.

A former teacher and high school cross-country coach was sentenced in an East St. Louis courtroom today to for hiding cameras to catch members of his girls' team undressed in Fairview Heights and Pontoon Beach and elsewhere in Illinois. But more should be done about his crimes.

For more information: David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP Director (314) 566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com

Another predator priest is exposed

He worked in three area Catholic dioceses

Cleric was in Belleville, Springfield MO & Springfield IL

Church investigation into his alleged crimes is re-opened

Sex abuse victims to bishops: “How many others are you hiding?”

For at least ten years, a priest quietly lived and worked in two Illinois dioceses and one in Missouri. Last week, Catholic officials disclosed that they are re-opening an investigation into accusations that he sexually abusing a boy and a girl in South Dakota.

We are deeply saddened by the Revere Catholics who feel Boston church officials have erred in letting three staffers resign because they refused to call 911 when they suspected child sex crimes. They are wrong to minimize the harm such refusals cause.

A woman who says she was sexually abused as a child by an Arkansas priest has settled her child sex abuse and cover up suit. We applaud her and her family for their courage and beg Arkansas Catholic officials – especially Little Rock Bishop Anthony Taylor - to “come clean” about child molesting clerics. And we condemn the harsh words of a Subiaco Catholic official whose cruelty is rubbing even more salt into the deep wounds of this brave family.

Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach CA, western regional director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (949 322 7434, jcasteix@gmail.com)

For at least a month-and more likely several months-top Catholic officials have kept silent about a child porn case in the Vatican itself, again showing that secrecy is still the norm in clergy sex cases.